GazetteLive has the details:
Redcar MP Ian Swales is to stand down at the next General Election.
The Liberal Democrat, who was elected in 2010, said the decision was due to personal reasons.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to represent my local area in Parliament,” he added.
“I am proud of what I have achieved so far, especially my role in saving the steel works.
“I will continue to work hard for the area in my remaining time as an MP.”
Mr Swales replaced Labour’s Vera Baird as Redcar MP following a dramatic swing.
He has a majority of 5,214.
Photo by Keith Edkins
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15 Comments
That will be a Labour Gain then
Sad news 🙁
Somehow, I guessed this item would bring out the Doomsters. Can I just point out that our Polling average has crept up to 9% again as the effect of the May Elections wears off. Also we gained a Local seat on Thursday in Cornwall & might have gained another in Devon if we had actually stood.
A real shame. I think Swales would have held (though clearly it was very tight, probably 50/50)
Labour are now clear favourites here, though I think it will still be close, as per local elections :S
The local party must select a strong candidate, and quickly.
It was lost already as are the vast majority of our seats, votes at this weeks local by elections appear to be:
Conservative 2691
Labour 2182
UKIP 1518
Lib Dem 484 and we could not find candidates in two of the seats
We are really going places!!!!! We are busted
@paul barker “Can I just point out that our Polling average has crept up to 9% again as the effect of the May Elections wears off. Also we gained a Local seat on Thursday in Cornwall & might have gained another in Devon if we had actually stood.”
And in other local elections yesterday, from a low base we dropped further to 5-6% in Cheshire and Hertfordshire, and did not stand in Tonbridge and Barnsley. Meanwhile, polls today from Yougov and Populus put Lib Dems on 8%. I wish my optician could prescribe the same rose-tinted spectacles that you wear.
On Ian Swales, I don’t know much about him, but a quick Google shows that he honoured his pledge on tuition fees and has a background in industry (as a fellow chemical engineer), so he strikes me as the sort of person that the party needs and will sorely miss.
@theakes
“It was lost already as are the vast majority of our seats”
Is that a fact? Sorry to be a bit parochial but could you tell me whether Southport will be lost (as part of the “vast majority” according to you) or held?
@Theakes. The most recent council by-election in Redcar was a Lib Dem hold, defending a majority of 35, held on euro election day.
You keep Southport in bloom Simon and you will be just dandy or you could focus your attention down the road in Bootle and face up to real issues.
Yes. Sadly another man of principle who could have helped us stand up to Nick’s disastrous leadership and fight back will be gone.
http://www.libdemfightback.yolasite.com
Julian: I don’t understand your point. Bootle and Southport are two different constituencies. One has a moderate lib dem majority, the other is possibly the safest Labour seat in the country.
Somehow, I guessed this item would bring out Paul Barker. Can I just point out that our Polling average has crept up to 9% again as the effect of Nick’s disastrous debates with Nigel in the run up the May Elections wears off – if we’re lucky. Also we gained a local seat on Thursday in Cornwall with less than a quarter of the vote & might have gained another in Devon if we actually had anybody left in the area who wasn’t so demoralised by Nick that he/she was willing to stand.
David Evans 12th Jul ’14 – 11:30am
Ditto.
I’m sad to see that Ian has decided not to restand. He has been a fantastic MP for my home town and exactly the kind of person we need more of in the Commons.
Ian Swales was one of the few bright moments in the otherwise dire night of General Election results in 2010.
If Paul Barker cannot recall that was when the ineptitude, incoherence and incompetence of those personally appointed by Clegg who failed to hang onto even the seats we had. This despite having the historic stroke of luck that first TV leadership debate huge potential support. The spike of support for the party disappeared in days and Clegg was alone like a performing seal lion sounding a claxon that nobody wanted to hear. Four years later after disasters in every single nationwide vote since and Paul Barker still cannot distinguish facts from fantasy.